Page 97 of Cross My Heart
Dexter: Pres, I am begging you, please. I am on my last nerve right now, I swear to god, I think she is going to run, I can’t handle this all, please.
Trevor: Pres, he is desperate
Preston: Alright, alright. Sorry Westbrook’s, you’re getting the boot.
Cooper: Wait? Seriously? I wanted to see what happens.
Trevor: You will, if you get an invite to the wedding, you’ll know MLM worked. Buh-bye Westbrook’s.
Julia: All right, asshats, she is in the shower. We will be over shortly. Dex, she is a little snippy today, but I think we can handle it. Don’t pressure her about plans or the future, though, she still has a lot of shit to work through.
Dexter: Ok, thanks, Jules.
Julia: Shit, gotta go, she is after my phone again. FYI, hide all your phones, she is on to MLM and is making it her mission to find out what’s going on.
Dexter: What??? NO. Do not let her do that, it’ll ruin her final surprise.
Preston: Such a romantic
Dexter: Shut it, get me everyone’s phones, now, and I mean everyone’s. You can all have them back when Lanie leaves.
Preston: Wtf, you’re not serious?
Dexter: 100% get them now.
* * *
Lanie
“If you’re not goingto give me your phone, at least give me the gist of what the messages say?” I’ve gone to begging, and I’m not ashamed of it.
“Lanes, I already told you I can’t. When the time is right, you’ll know everything. Just be patient.” Jules tells me. “Now, grab the stuff from the kitchen, the car is running so I’m going to head out with Charlie, the poor guy still has a fever, I’m not sure he will make it through dinner.”
“Awe, Charlie-o. I’m sorry, anytime you need to leave just let me know. I’m happy to leave whenever you are.” I tell her.
“Yeah, I’m sure you are.” Jules rolls her eyes and walks out into the cold.
Damn, I already forgot how cold it is up here. I am really loving the weather in North Carolina a lot more than I thought I would.That’s not the only thing you’re loving. Ugh, even my inner voice is ganging up on me.
Twenty minutes later, we are walking into the very full McDowell’s home. Mimi is in heaven, having always envisioned a large family. TheBoys,as we are now calling the Westbrook boys, are all on the couch with Pawpaw and Tate. Dex is nowhere to be found. Mimi and Sylvie are flying around the kitchen, laughing like they have been friends for years. The entire scene makes my heart happy.
Did I bring all this happiness to their doorstep?
“Mom,” Julia whisper-yells behind me, “Charlie still isn’t feeling well, and he fell asleep on the way over, I’m going to put him down in Lanie’s room. Is that okay?”
“Poor little guy,” Mimi and Sylvie say in unison. “Of course, of course,” Mimi starts, “is that alright with you, Sylvie?”
Sylvie must have slept in my old room last night.
“Of course, dear, whatever you need. If anything is in your way, just push it to the side,” she says.
“Thank you, Mrs. Westbrook,” Julia says while Sylvie tsks.
“None of that, Sylvie will do just fine,” she lets Julia know.
“Alright, thank you, Sylvie.” Julia smiles at me on her way to the stairs.
Is she feeling the happiness around us too? Has it always been this way, or is it different? Am I different?
